Abstract: A method for adjusting image is applied to an image output device. According to the method, the image output device firstly obtains a current image frame including plural pixels, and analyzes an intensity of an input image signal value of each pixel. The image output device defines each pixel having the input image signal value being smaller than a critical value as a dark pixel, and counts a number of the dark pixels to obtain a ratio of the dark pixels among all the pixels to serve as a dark pixel ratio. The image output device determines an image adjusting curve equation according to the dark pixel ratio, substitutes the input image signal values to the image adjusting curve equation, and obtains output image signal values of the pixels. Finally, the image output device combines all the output image signal values to obtain a final output image frame.

Abstract: An optical device includes a core sandwiched between two clads. The core includes a planar waveguide layer with ridges protruding into one of the clads, forming a ridge waveguide structure that guides the propagation of light in the core. The core dimensions satisfy the following conditions: the ridge width is less than the total core height; the ridge height is less than the ridge width; the thickness of the planar waveguide layer is equal to or less than one-fourth of the total core height. Dimensions satisfying these conditions can be selected to provide polarization independent operation. The ridges may be arranged to define a pair of optical waveguides forming a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, an optical wavelength filter, or various other optical devices.

Abstract: Lift-off method and half-tone photolithography are used to fabricate LCD TFT array plate. Only two photo masks are used to respectively define a first and a second metal layers to accomplish the LCD TFT array plate.

Abstract: A protection device of a slot-in optical disk drive is provided. The protection device is disposed between two linking parts of the slot-in optical disk drive. One of the two linking parts is formed with a slot, and the other one of the two linking parts is connected to an upper end of a guide pin. A lower end of the guide pin protrudes and is inserted into the slot, and a portion of the guide pin corresponding to a side of the slot is formed with a notch. As the notch engages with the slot, the situation that the guide pin slides out of the slot can be avoided.

Abstract: A developer storing container includes a developer storing chamber storing a developer therein and having a side wall, and an agitating member having a shaft portion rotatably supported by the side wall. The side wall has a hollow portion surrounding the shaft portion of the agitating member. A seal member having an annular shape is provided between the hollow portion and the shaft portion. The seal member has an outer circumferential surface contacting the hollow portion, and an inner circumferential surface contacting the shaft portion. A contact pressure between the outer circumferential surface of the seal member and the hollow portion is larger than a contact pressure between the inner circumferential surface of the seal member and the shaft portion of the agitating member.

Abstract: A mixed-voltage I/O buffer includes an input buffer circuit. The input buffer circuit includes a first inverter, a first voltage level limiting circuit, a first voltage level pull-up circuit, an input stage circuit, and a logic calibration circuit. The first inverter inverts an input signal to generate a first control signal. The first voltage level limiting circuit limits voltage level of an external signal to generate the input signal transmitted to the first inverter to prevent electrical overstress of the first inverter. The first voltage level pull-up circuit is controlled by the first control signal to pull up voltage level of the input signal inputted into the first inverter. The input stage circuit receives the first control signal to generate corresponding digital signals inputted into a core circuit. The logic calibration circuit calibrates voltage level of the first control signal when the first inverter mis-operates due to the input signal having a low voltage level.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming a nano structure and method of forming a solar cell using the same. The method of forming the nano structure includes: preparing a template; ionizing a surface of the template; forming an oxide layer enclosing the template on the surface of the template; and removing the template.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the following steps. Firstly, foreground image data and background image data are received, wherein the foreground and the background image data corresponds to the same pixel in a display panel. Then, a foreground ratio and a background ratio are determined in response to an operational event. Next, a first value is obtained by multiplying the foreground image data by the foreground ratio, and a second value is obtained by multiplying the background image data by the background ratio. Then, an output image data is obtained by adding the first value and the second value. After that, the output image data is displayed at the pixel in the display panel.

Abstract: In an AC motor driving circuit, a current-type rectifier circuit having a filter circuit and first bidirectional switches bridge-connected to the filter circuit is provided in an output of an AC power supply. An AC motor is connected to an output of the rectifier circuit through a voltage-type inverter. One terminal of each of second bidirectional switches is connected to corresponding one of output terminals of the current-type rectifier circuit. The other terminals of the second bidirectional switches are collectively connected to one terminal of a series circuit having a DC power supply and a reactor. The other terminal of the series circuit is connected to one output terminal of the current-type rectifier circuit. With this configuration, a large capacitor for a DC link can be dispensed with, so that a reduction in circuit size and weight can be attained.

Abstract: In a switching power supply apparatus, multiplier 9 multiplies error voltage Verr generated in voltage error amplifier 8 and input voltage Vin to generate first threshold signal Vth1 in-phase with and similar to input voltage Vin and having an amplitude proportional to error voltage Verr. Second threshold signal generator circuit 14 generates second threshold signal Vth2 from first threshold signal Vth1. Switching device 7 is turned on and off so that the inductor current may change between first and second threshold signals Vth1 and Vth2. The switching frequency is detected and the proportional factor of first and second threshold signals Vth1 and Vth2 is changed to control the average switching frequency almost at a constant value for reducing the high frequency noises and the switching losses. The switching power supply apparatus facilitates reducing the noises and losses, improving the power factor thereof, and preventing the response performances thereof from being impaired.

Abstract: Provided is a method and structure for bonding a flip chip while increasing the manufacturing yield. In the method, solder bumps are formed on first electrodes and/or second electrodes disposed on first and second substrates, respectively. In addition, the first and second electrodes are arranged to face each other with a second resin including spacer balls being disposed between the first and second substrates. In addition, while flowing the second resin, the first and second substrates are pressed until the distance between the first and second substrates is decreased smaller than diameter of the spacer balls so as to connect the solder bumps between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A motorcycle can include an engine, a fuel tank, a seat, and a canister. The fuel tank can have an upper surface and an inclined surface arranged to extend obliquely downward from a rear end of the upper surface toward a back of the motorcycle. The seat can include a seat front portion and a seat rear portion. The seat front portion can be provided on the inclined surface, and the seat rear portion can extend toward the back of the motorcycle. The canister can be arranged between the inclined surface and the seat front portion. The canister can store fuel gas generated in the fuel tank, and supply the fuel gas to the engine. At least one of the inclined surface and the lower surface can have a first cavity that stores the canister.

Abstract: Provided are a field emission device enabling rapid pulse operation and a method of operating the same. The field emission device includes a cathode electrode including a field emission source, an anode electrode disposed to face the cathode electrode and accelerating electrons emitted from the field emission source, a current controller controlling field emission current flowing through the cathode electrode, and a field emission controller applying a pull-up voltage to the cathode electrode when the current controller is turned off.

Abstract: A central information processing system for a service robot.

Abstract: Provided is a laser device. In the laser device, an active layer is connected to a stem core of a 1×2 splitter on a substrate, a first diffraction grating is coupled to a first twig core of the 1×2 splitter, and a second diffraction grating is coupled to a second twig core of the 1×2 splitter. An active layer-micro heater is designed to supply heat to the active layer. First and second micro heaters are designed to supply heats to the first and second diffraction gratings, respectively, thereby varying a Bragg wavelength.

Abstract: A developer material holding apparatus holds a developer. A body holds a developer material and includes a first opening through which the developer material is discharged. A shutter is assembled to the body, and is movable either to an opening position where the developer material is discharged from the body or to a closing position where the developer material is not discharged from the body. The shutter includes a second opening such that when the shutter is at the opening position, the second opening is in alignment with the first opening. At least one of the first opening and the second opening is in the form a mesh including a plurality of openings.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus to read image of rectangle shape document set on a setting board, is supplied capable of assigning correct edge image to an output image. In the image reading apparatus, a image data storing section stores image data reading area lager than the rectangle shape document; an edge feature extracting section extracts edge feature according to the image data; a rectangle feature extracting section extracts edge feature of side regions respectively corresponding to each side of the rectangle shape document according to the edge feature; a region selecting section selects two regions from the side regions; a coordinates calculating section calculates coordinates specifying position of straight lines representing four sides through using inclination information of the selected respective two regions; and a compounded-image outputting section replaces the feature region with frame image according to the coordinates, compounds the frame image with image data, and outputs the compounded image.

Abstract: An LED bulb includes an LED module having a PCB on which at least one LED element is mounted. A housing has a plurality of heat dissipating protrusions which protrude from an outer circumferential surface thereof, with a thread being formed on a predetermined portion of the housing. A light transmitting cover has a thread by which the cover can be fastened to the thread which is formed on the predetermined portion of the housing, in a threaded manner. Further, the LED bulb includes a bottom case into which an inverter for supplying a direct current to the LED module is inserted. The bottom case is inserted into the housing to be fastened to the housing. A socket is fastened to the bottom case.

Abstract: Provided is a tactile and visual display device enabling visual information and tactile information to be simultaneously sensed. The tactile and visual display device includes: a display unit comprising a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixels; a tactile sensation generator mounted over the display unit, transmitting light emitted from the pixels, comprising a transistor electrically connecting a plurality of corresponding pixels formed to correspond to the pixels with adjacent corresponding pixels, and generating an electrostatic force and a magnetostatic force; and a sensor in contact with the corresponding pixels to sense the generated electrostatic force or magnetostatic force. Accordingly, the texture of an image displayed on a display is provided as tactile information using an electrostatic force and a magnetostatic force, so that tactile information as well as visual information of the conventional display may be simultaneously provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay having a high positioning accuracy of a movable iron piece and little variation in operating characteristics. A pair of upper and lower rotating shaft convex portions are provided at one end of a movable iron piece along the same shaft center. The pair of upper and lower rotating shaft convex portions are rotatably supported by a base and a spool of an electromagnetic block mounted on the base respectively. A movable contact piece is driven by the movable iron piece rotated by magnetization or demagnetization of the electromagnetic block to open or close a contact. One end of the spool has a shaft hole in which the upper rotating shaft convex portion of the movable iron piece is inserted.